Feed strip locator



Patented Dec. 9, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FEED STRIP LOCATOR Walter Sorensen, Moline, Ill.

Appcaton July 17, 1945, Serial No. &05,615

20 Claims. (Cl. 59-6) (Granted under the act of March 3', 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370' G. 757) The invention described herein may be manu actured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me' of any royalty thereon.

This invention reiates to dies for making ammunition belt' links; More specifically it relates to an improvement on such dies designed to render more nearly perfect the links produced thereby,

In the art of manufacturing Cartridge or ammunition belt' links the link is ordinarily formed from sheet meta-l and comprises a, pair of axially aligned, spaced apart loops of generaliy annular shape adapted to' receive and grip a Cartridge, one of said loops being conformed to the neck and/or shoulder of a Cartridge; together with a third l oop ofiset from the said coaxial loops but connected thereto and having its axis generally parallel to the axis of said coaxial loops. The Construction is such that the offse't loop is in alignment With the space between the said coaXial loops and is of a breadth slightly less than the distance between saidcoaxial loops' Whereby a plurality of such loops may be articulated to form a disintegrating belt by placing the ofiset loop of each link between the coaxia-l loops of an adjacent link and passing cartridges respectively into the' series of three loops thus aligned. The diameter of the offset loopis slightly greater than the portion of the cartridge which it receives Whereby it is adapted to rota'te about said cartridge, while the coaxial loops firmly grip the cartridge and hold it in place in the belt.

It has been the practice to form such belt links by the use of suitable dies adapted to' cut and form the links from a strip' of sheet metal fed continuously through said dies; In most in'- stances the arrangem-ent has been such that the strip of metal fed into' the dies is of a width adequate for the making of asingle link only.

The dies normally comprise an upper and a lower die, the former being movable and said dies being adapted to form the links by acting, in a plurality of successive Operations, upon each individual area or segment of the strip. On one die assembly widely accepted for thispurpose spaced apart, aligned cuts are made in one operation and said' outs are completed or merged in a succeeding operation. Although means have been provided for so directing the progress of the strip through the dies that the said spaced apart, aligned cuts are intended to be in perfect alignment With the cutting member which completes and merges said' cuts at the time of such completion, the said means havenot. been. en-

2 tirely effective` for this purpose, for the reason that slivers are frequently formed' on the links making them imperfect and also resulting in undue wear upon the die parts with which they e come in contact in succeeding Operations.

It is an important object of this invention to provide means for maintaini ng more nearly perfeet alignment of the strip materialin a Cartridge belt link die assembly.-

Another object of this invention is to provide a alignment assembly which may be installed in used belt link dies for improving their ability to maintain the material strip` in proper alignment.

A still further object of my invention is to provide novel Construction in a belt link die strip aligning means.`

In general. my invention in its preferred form comprises -a base supporting a tang or lug of predetermined` size` adapted to successivel-y engage at least one of the preferably parallel sides of each ot succeeding openings, one of which isformedi-n the feed strip in* the initial operation in the formation of each link.

It willof course be apparent that my invention may be either a detach-able or permanent fixture in a die assembly andthat it may be used either in conjunetion: with other aligning means or alone.

In order that a clear and eoncise disclosure of my invention may be made, I have accompanied this specification with suitable' drawings illustrating my invention wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a'top die of a` die assembly, a part of a feed strip being shown in place thereon which has outs defining a few successive stagesof embryo links and the assembly being shown in invertedposition;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary lon'gitudi-nal section through` a die assembly inc'orporating my invention;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of one of the ele'- ments comprising my invention in its preferred form said element being shown: invertedfrom its preferred operative position;

Fig. 4 is a perspectve view of another element included in the preferred form of my invention, the same being similarly inverted; and

F'g. 5 is a top plan View of a: fragment of` a feed strip having outs defining. various stages of embryo links.

Referring now tothe drawing in greater detail, the numeral 3& designatesthe top die of' the die assemb'ly shown fragm'entarily, and 3ldesignates the lower dieot this assembly. In the particular die assembly illustrated in part, seven stages are provided, the more progressed ones of which are not shown in the drawing. It will be understood that as the top die comes down upon the feed strip supported on the lower die the seventh die station completes the formation of a link and the first die station forms the initial general Outline 'of an embryo link. Intervening die stations perform operations upon intervening embryo links directed toward bring-` ing those embryo links upon which they are respectively operating more nearly into the condition of finished links, said latter Stations being progressively arranged from two to six with' reference to the degree of completion of the respective embryo links.

When a feed strip is started through such a die assembly, it is introduced to the first die staarea A has moved over into the position designated by B, it is acted upon by die elements adapted to sever the material between the cut ?a and the aligned one of the parallel sides of cut l and the material between the cut 3a and the one of the parallel segments of the cut l which is aligned therewith. For purposes of clarification it may be mentioned that aportion of the starting end of each strip is wasted due to the fact that the last half of an embryo link together with the first half of a succeeding embryo link is formed therein, the said last half of the first said embryo link being without a first half; however, all succeeding links are full and the operation is the same for succeeding links as for the initial one. Thus it wil1 be seen that as the top die comes down upon the metal strip supported upon the lower die, station No. 1 partially forms a pair of generally parallel fingers or tongues which are in approximate registration with one another while station No. 2 completes the formation of an attached, oppositely directed but parallel tongue and also completes the formation of the registering parallel tongues of the preceding embryo link.

It is at station No. 2 that `considerab1e difficulty has been experienced in the past with the formation of slivers on the feed strip, it having been heretofore impossible to maintain the strip in a position such that the inner ends of cuts Za. and 3a together with respectively aligned sides of cut l are in perfectly parallel and aligned relationships to the cutting or stamping member operating at station No. 2 to merge said cuts Za and 3c with cut I. It is to insure such alignment and the elimination of slivers at this point, that I have directed my invention, a preferred form of which as herein disclosed includes a holder member designated'generally by the numeral o and having an enlarged or deep section l2 together with oppositely directed ears II. In the enlarged section |2 a' cutout !3 is provided having adjacent its top expanded sections |4 and l'5. Into the cutout I 3 I fit a locating member designated generally by the numeral l8 and having a, tang or lug !9 adapted to be partially received in the smaller dimension portion 'of the outout !3, together with ears 2! and 22 which,

`when in operation, are received in the enlarged sections l4 and I 5 of the outout I3. It will be noted that the tang l9 is of a length appreciably greater than that of the reduced portion of the cutout |3 so that when in place therein, its free end extends substantially beyond the member ID. On the other hand the width of the tang !eis substantially less' than that of the reduced section of the cutout or slot l3 and tapped holes or bores 32 and 33 are provided in the enlarged section l2 extending from the opposed ends thereof to the restricted portion of the cutout l3. Setscrews 25 threaded in the tapped bores* 3'2 and 33 enable the fixing of the tang !9 at any lateral position in the cutout l3 permitted by the difierence between its transverse dimension and that of th said cutout [3.

As will be apparent from Figs. 1 and 2, the part Io is mounted on the bottom portion of the top die by suitable fastening means 2'! in a position such that parts l2 and !9 project downwardly. When the top die is in lowered position the lower end of the tang 19 is received in a cutout 34 provided in the lower die 3l. Fig. 1 illustrates clearly that the width of the tang IS is substantially equal to the distance between the parallel sides of the cut I and that said tang fits within negligible tolerances between said parallel sides when the top die is brought down into operative relation to the feed strip. such being the case and it being remembered that the position of the member 18 may be adjusted in the cutout l3 by the setscrews 25 to compensate for any discrepancies and/or for wear of the tang 19, it will be apparent that the lateral position of the feed strip at station No. 2 may be accurately regulated so that said parallel segments of the cut l together with the inner ends of the cuts Za and 3a are in perfect alignment with the cutting element or cutting elements which operate to merge said cuts in the manner heretofore described, thus avoiding the formation of slivers- It Will be noted that the corners on the extended end of the tang I 9 are rounded; such construction insures that the tang will enter the space between the parallel sides of the cut I, said rounded corners enabling the tang IS to shift the feed strip laterally, if necessary, in order to gain such entrance. such shifting will have the effect of placing the cuts Za and Ba and the parallel sides of the cut l in the perfectly aligned position desired.

The openings 'i in the feed strip cooperating with sharpened prongs 35 have heretofore been relied upon for insuring the desired alignment of the cuts and, as indicated, have not generally proved to be adequate for the purpose intended. My improved alignment means may be employed either in cooperation with the openings 1 and prongs 35 or may be relied upon as the sole alignmg means.

Although I have described a specific embodiment of my invention for illustrative purposes, it will be understood that various modifications, alterations, and substitutions may be made therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of my invention as dened in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A feed-strip alignin means for ammunition belt-link dies comprising, a holding member including means forming a cutout extending from its top to its bottom, said cutout being enlarged in its top portion, a locator element received in said cutout and projecting beyond the bottom of said holding n'remi'ae",` the fit of" said locator'- ele: ment'- in saictj cutout being loose in atleastone direction, a head on said locator oosely reeeiv able in said enlarged portion of' said cutout, and means foradiustab-l fixing the position of said locator in said cutout.

2. A feed-strip al'igning means for' ammuni' tiro belt-link dies comprising; a holdingmember including means forming a' cutout extendin from one of its' snrfazces' to a generally oppo'site sur face, said cutout' being enlarge'ct adj acent said first surface, a' locator element' received said cutout andprojecting beyond said second surface of said holding member, the fit of' saicflocator element in said cutout' being loose in at least one direction, a head on said locator loosely receiv eme. in said. eniarged. portion' of' said cutout, and means; for adjustably Xin-g the position of said locator in said cutout: V

3. A feed-strip' aligning means for ammunition beit mk dies com ising, a= hqlcfi' n'glmmblf in clding means` formin'g a cutout extendmg from one of its' surfaces to' a generally pposite sm'- face, said cutout' bei-ng enlarged adjacent said first' surface, support means on said' holding member for supporting said' member in a die or the like, a locator element received in saidcut'out and'. projecting beyond. said second surface of said* holding' member, the fi`t of said locator erement: in said' cutout being loose in at least one direction, a head on said locator loose-ly recent able in said enlarged' portion of said cutout, and means for adjustably fixing the position of said locator in said cutout.

4'. A feed-stri`p aligning means' forammunition belt-link dies com rising, a holding' member including means forming a cutout extending from one of its surfac'es' to agenerally" opposite sur'- face, said cutout being enlarged adjacent said first surface, a locator element received in said cutout and projecting' beyond said second' surface of said holding member, anda head' on' said locator adapted to be* received in the said' enlarg'ed portion of the cutout,

5. A feed-strip aligning means for' ammunition belt-link dies' c'ompris'ing, a holding member; a locator element movably mounted on said hold'- ing'member and projectingtherefrom, and means for adjustably fixil'ig the position of said locator element on said holding member;

6. A feed-strip aligning means for ammunition belt-link' dies comprising', a holding member including means forming' a cutout extending from one of its surfaces to a generally opposite surface, a locator element adapted to be received in said cutout and to project beyond the said holding member in at least one direction, the fit of said locator element in said cutout being loose in at least one direction, and means for adjustably fixing the position of said locator in said cutout.

7. A feed-strip aligning means for ammunition belt-link dies comprising, a holding member including means forming a cutout extending from one of its surfaces to a generally opposite surface, said cutout being enlarged adjacent said first surface, a locator element received in said cutout and projecting beyond the said second surface of said holding member, a head on said locator receivable in the said enlarged portion of the cutout, and means for adjusting the position of said locator relative to an ndependently fixed point.

8. A feed-strip aligning means for ammunition belt-link dies comprising a holding member, a,

6 locator element projecting from said holding member, and means for ad justing the position of said' loea't'r efement relative to an independently fixed point.

9: A med s-trip al i gning' means for ammunition belt-imir dies comprisi ng, a holding member ineindi'n g means forming a: cutout, a locator' element adapte& to be received in saidcutout and to project beyond a snrface of said holding mem ber; the fit of said; locator elementin said cutout being loose inat least one direction, and' means for' adjustably fixing* the position of said locator in sai-&cutout; g

10) &feed-strip ahgni ng means for` ammunitionbelt-iink dies comprising, aholding member including means form-in acutout, a locator ele'- rrent` mames to be received in said cutout and toproject beyond a surface of said holding mem-'- ber, and means for adjusting the position of said locator" relative to an` independent'ly fixed poi-nt.

lflz A ieed strip aligning means for ammuni tion belt link dies c'omprising, a holding member including means fjorming a cutout e'xtendifig from one of' its surfaces to a generally' op'posite surface; said cutout being enlarged adjacent said first surface, a locator' element received in said cutout and projecting beyond the said second surface of said holding member, the fit' of' said locator elementin saidcutout being loose' in at least one direction, an arcuate surface on the eXtend-ed endportion of said locator, a head on said locator loosely re'cevab'le in the said enlarged portion of the cutout, and means for adjustabl'y fi'xing the position' of said* locator in said cutout; V

1 2. In combination, a die for use' in the manufacture of ammunition belt links, a second die ada-pte& to cooperate With said first die, a holding member including means forming a cutout extending" from one of its surfacesto a generally opposite surface, said' cutout being enlarged ad'- jtxcent said first` surface, a locator element' receiveci in said cutout' and projecting beyond` said second surface of said holding member, the fit of said locator element in said cutout being loose a't least one' direction, a head on' said locator loose-ly receivable in said enlarge'd portion of said cutout, means for adjustably fixing the position of said locator in said cutout, means for attaching' said* holding member to said first die in a position such that'. said enlarged portion of said cutout faces. said' die and means providing an openingon' said second' die adapted to at times receive the extended end of said locator element.

13. In combin'ation, a' die for use in the manufacture of ammunition belt links, a second die adapted to cooperate With said first die, a holding member attached to said first die, a locator element projecting from said holding member, and means providing an opening on said second die adapted to at times receive the extended end of said locator element.

14. In combination, a die for use in the manufacture of ammunition belt links, a second die adapted to cooperate With said first die, a holding member mounted upon said first die, a locator element movably mounted upon said holding member and including a portion projecting therefrom, means for adjustably fixing the position of said locator element, and means providing an opening on said second die adapted to at times receive said projecting portion of said locator element.

15. In combination, a die for use in the manufacture of ammunition belt links, a second die adapted to cooperate with said first die, a holding member mounted upon said first die, a locator element mounted upon said holding member and including a portion projecting therefrom, means for adjusting the position of said locator element With reference to an independently fixed point, and means providing an opening on said second die adapted to at times receive said projecting portion of said locator element.

16. In combination, a die for use in the manufacture of ammunition belt links, a second die adapted to cooperate With said first die, a locator element, means mounting said locator upon said first die and With a portion thereof projecting from said first die, means for adjusting the position of said locator with reference ,to said first die, and means providing an opening on said second die adapted to at times receive said projecting portion of said locator.

17. In combination, first and second dies cooperable with each other and arranged to receive therebetween a sheet metal strip for the 'formation of ammunition belt links, said strip having an opening therein, a holding member includin means forming a cutout extending from one of its surfaces to a generally opposite surface, said cutout being enlarged adjacent said first surface, a locator element adapted to be received in said cutout and including a portion projecting beyond the said second surface of said holding member, the fit of said locator element in said cutout being loose in at least one direction, an arcuate surface on the projecting portion of said locator element, a head on said locator adapted to be loosely received in the said enlarged portion of the cutout, means for adjustably fixing the position of said locator in said cutout, means for attaching said holding member to said first die in a position such that said enlarged portion of said cutout faces said die, and means providing an opening in said second die positionable in general registry with the opening in said strip and adapted to receive said projecting portion of said locator element, whereby as said dies are brought together said locator element is guided into the opening in said strip by means of said arcuate surface. and effects any required adjustment in the position of said strip with respect to said dies.

18. In combination, first and second dies cooperable with each other and arranged to receive therebetween a sheet metal strip for the formation of ammunition belt links, said sheet metal strip including means forming an opening therein, a holding member mounted upon said first die,

a locator element mounted upon said holding member and includin a portion projecting therefrom, and means providing an opening on said second die positionable in general registry with the opening in said strip and adapted to receive said projecting portion of said locator element, whereby as said dies are brought together at least a part of said locator element passes through the opening in said strip and effects any required adjustment in the position of said strip by reason of the engagement of said locator element with at least a portion of said strip which bounds said opening.

19. In combination, first and second dies cooperable with each other and arranged to receive therebetween a sheet metal strip for the formation of ammunition belt links, said strip including means forming an opening therein, a holding member mounted upon said first die, a locator element mounted upon said holding member and including a portion projecting therefrom. means for adjusting the position of said locator element with reference to said dies, and means providing an opening on said second die disposed in general registry With the opening in said strip and adapted to receive said projecting portion of said locator element, whereby as said dies are brought together at least a part of said locator element passes through the opening in said strip and effects any required adjustment in the position of said strip by reason of its engagement with at least a portion of said strip which bounds said opening.

20. In combination, first nd second dies cooperable With each other and arranged to receive therebetween a sheet metal` strip for the formation of ammunition belt links, said strip including meansiorming an opening therein, a holding member mounted upon said first die, a locator element movably mounted upon said holding member and including a portion projecting therefrom, means for adjustably fixing the position of said locator element, and means providing an opening on said second die disposed in general registry with the opening in said sheet metal strip and adapted to receive said projecting portion of said locator element, whereby as said dies are brought together, at least a part of said locator element passes through the opening in said sheet metal strip making any required adjustment in the position of' said strip by reason of its engagement with at least a portion of said strip which bounds said opening.

WALTER SORENSEN. 

